Duplicating machine



July 2, 1946.

c. H. BRADT 2,403,259

DUPLIGATING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M ENTOR.

Patented July 2, 1946 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE DUPIJCATING mom Charles H. Bradt, Groton, N. Y., assignor to L. C.

Smith & Corona Typewriters,

Inc., Syracuse,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 20, 1942, Serial No. 451,607

by the liquid or spirit process of hectographicv duplication.

The principal purposes of the invention are to provide improved, simple and emcient means for supporting a master sheet and effecting contact of a copy sheet therewith for taking a copy therefrom; to provide an improved master sheet carrying drum and an effective combined clamping and feeding or adjusting means thereon for adjustably holding a master sheet thereto; to provide a rotary liquid process duplicator having improved, simple and efficient provision whereby all, or one or more selected portions, of the matter printed or otherwise delineated in hectographic copying ink on a face of a master sheet or web may be duplicated on a copy sheet or web; to provide a rotary liquid process duplicator having simple and efficient provisions for enabling duplication of selected portions of a long master web which may be several times as long as the circumference of the master-carrying drum of the duplicator; to provide means whereby any selected portion of a master may be impressed upon any selected portion of a short or long copy sheet; to provide a combined master sheet carrying and block-out drum for a liquid process duplicator; to provide a master sheet carrying drum and means for adiustably holding a master sheet to the drum with both ends of the master free inside of the drum and an intermediate portion of the master on the outer face of the drum periphery; and to provide a rotary liquid process duplicator having simple and efllcient means for duplicating selected portions of a master arranged on the master-carrying drum with the lines of writing Or printing on the master running longitudinally of the drum.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of one form of duplicating machine embodying the invention, and showing the machine as viewed from the right hand side thereof Figure 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal medial sectional view of the machine;

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in section on the line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing in perspective the driving connection between one of the master clamping and adjusting rolls and its driving means;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the drum approximately on the line =55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a master carried by the drum of the machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 5;

Figure '7 is a medial transverse sectional view of another form of master carrying drum means which may be employed in the machine instead of the drum shown in Figures 1 to 6; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing a master carried by the drum means shown in Figure 7.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 will first be described. The master carrier comprises a hollow cylindrical drum l0 fixed on a shaft H which is rotative in bearing sleeves l2 seated at the lower ends of vertical slots l3 in side walls I and I4 forming part of the stationary main framework ll of the machine. The master-carrying drum I 0 is removably held in place by two blocks l5 which are channeled along their vertical side edges at l5 to embrace the respective side walls of the framework and are clamped by set screws i6 threaded in the blocks and bearing against the adjacent one of the frame walls. The lower ends of the blocks ii are seated in channels I! formed in the respective bearing sleeves -12 at the tops of the sleeves to hold the sleeves against rotation.

The drum i0 is provided with two parallel, circumferentially spaced, narrow slots or gaps l8 and IS in its cylindrical wall, said slots extending longitudinally of the drum parallel to the drum axis. In operation of the machine the drum rotates counterclockwise as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. Preferably, as shown, the slots or gaps l8 and is are made only wide enough circumferentially of the drum for free passage therethrough of hectographic master sheets or webs of thensual commercial range of thicknesses, but can be made much wider if so desired. The two slots preferably extend substantially the full length of the drum, as shown. The drum is made of metal but may be made of other material or materials such as plastic compositions possessing rigidity.

Preferably, as shown, the leading slot l8 extends through the cylindrical wall of the drum a-ioaaoa 3 outer end of the slot. Preferably, as shown, the trailing slot l9 extends through the cylindrical wall from the outside to the inside of the wall at an acute angle to a tangent touching the drum periphery at the outer edge of said slot, the inner edge of the slot I 9 trailing considerably behind the outer edge thereof.

A pair of master clamping and adjusting or feeding-rolls 29--2l are mounted within the drum I3 opposite and close to slot l8. Said rolls are made of any suitable material such as metal, and may be rubber faced if desired. If made entirely of metal. said rolls may be knurled. They extend longitudinally of the drum parallel to the drum axis, and the bight of said pair of rolls is opposite the slot l8. Roll 23 is iournaled at the ends of the drum at 22 and 23 for rotation about a fixed axis. One end of roll 20 has a driving connection 24-24- with a shouldered shaft 25 which extends rotatively through a part of the drum at the right hand end of the drum and has a finger wheel 26 detachably fixed thereon exteriorly of said drum end. The roll 2| is journaled at the free ends of a pair of short; arms 21 which are formed with hubs pivoted on shouldered pivot screws 28 threaded in the drum. Said arms rock about an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the drum l3 and roll 20. Springs 29 are coiled about the hubs of arms 21 and engaged with the drum and with said arms 21 to yieldingly press roll 2| to roll 29.

Any suitable hand or power operated means may be provided for driving the drum, supplying moistened copy sheets thereto, and pressing the copy sheets to a master carried by the drum. The preferred means for these purposes shown in the drawings are constructed and operate substantially as those provided for like purposes in the duplicating machine disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,185,188, granted January 2, 1940, to

John J. Flanigan, to which patent reference may be had for a more detailed showing and description.

Briefly the means shown comprises a pressure roll or rotative platen 30 which is suitably journaled on the machine framework and contacts the drum at the underside of the drum to press a copy sheet to a drum-carried master 9 (Fig. 6), as the copy sheet passes between the drum and platen.

Briefly also the means shown for delivering copy sheets moistened face up into the bight of the drum and platenincludes copy sheet feeding and m'oistening means, and means for timing the feed of copy sheets thereby to the drum in desired relation to revolutions of the drum. Clear copy sheets are fed into the machine from a feed table 3| on the framework l4. Such sheets are introduced one at a time between a pair of introductory feed rolls 32--33 against sheet stop means 34 while roll 32 is lifted away from roll 33 and the sheet stop means 34 is in stopping position, i. e.

while the parts are positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Preferably a plurality of the stops 34 is provided as in said Flanigan patent. Rolls 32-33 have registering annular grooves 32-33= to receive the forward end of each such stop 34. .A supply of hectograph ink solvent is maintained in a trough 35 by suitable means. A roll 36 turning in said trough contacts a roll 31 which receives solvent from roll 35 and applies solvent to the upper face of a copy sheet as the latter is fed-between roll 31 and an underlying counterpressure roll 33, said rolls being suitably journaled in the framework. A spring 39 normally pivotally urges the stop device 34 to sheet stopping position about a 4 rock shaft 43 ioumaled on the walls l4 -l4 Roll 32 is carried by a rocking frame 4| journaled on the frame walls l4 -l4 to rock about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the machine, and a spring 42 acts on said frame to normally urge roll 32 down to roll 33. A lever 43 fulcrumed on the framework at 44 has one arm thereof engaged under a tappet 45 on frame 4| and a tappet 43 on a rocking frame 41, of which shaft 40 is a part, to cause movement of sheet stop 34 out of stopping position and lowering of roll 32 once during each revolution of the drum Ill. The other arm of lever 43 has thereon a cam follower 43 engaged under the periphery of a rotatlve cam disk 49 held to the drum shaft II to rotate with the drum.

Preferably, the timing cam disk 49 is rotatively adjustable through a complete circle relatively to the drum by means similar to that shown in my application for United States Patent Serial No. 435,383, filed March 19, 1942. This means comprises a collar 53 fixed on drum shaft II and against which one end of the hub 5| of the cam disk is clamped by means of a nut 52 threaded on a reduced end portion of the shaft I I against a resilient metal disk 53 pinned to shaft II. By loosening nut 52, the cam and its hub 'can be rotated relatively to the drum l0 and shaft l I and disk 53 through a complete revolution. By t ghtening the nut, the cam is held to rotate in unison with the drum. An annular row of graduations 54 is provided on the outer face of the cam hub 5i and a coactive graduation 55 is provided on the outer face of disk 53 to facilitate setting of the timing cam.

Suitable driving gearing (not shown), arranged as in the Flanigan patent above referred to, positively rotates the drum in the direction indicated by the arrows on the drawings in taking copies, and pos tively drives rolls 33 and 33 clockwise during rotation of the drum.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6, the flexible hectograiphic master sheet or web has one end thereof inserted into the drum through slot l8 and between rolls 20 and 2| and its other end inserted into the drum through slot l9 leaving a portion of the master stretched over the drum between the slots with a portion of the mirror script on the master,

corresponding in length to the distance between the slots, exposed for copying therefrom. By

turning the finger wheel 26 the inserted master kinds of selective area copying, permitting selective copying with the lines of the master running either longitudinally or circumferentially of the drum.

It will also be observed that the exposed area of the master can be applied to different selected ones of parts of either a short or a. long copy sheet by proper rotative adjustment of the cam 49 it hasbeen found in practice that the spring pressed rolls 202| securely anchor the master sheet .to the drum. By employing the obtuse angle arrangement of slot I8 shown and described, an abrupt bend of the master into the drlm'i is provided which affords added security against accidental slippage of the master. The acute angle arrangement of slot I8 increases freedom of movement of the trailing portion of the master.

Aligned sheet squaring graduations 56 are preferably provided on the drum adjacent opposite ends of slot I8 for coaction with the lines of matter on the master, or with special indicia printed on the master, for facilitating proper anchorage of the master to the drum.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures '7 and 8, it will be understood that the drum I is substituted for drum lo, the remainder of the machine being constructed as described above and shown in Figures 1 to 6.

Drum III and the master clamping and adjusting means thereon are constructed as in the first embodiment of the invention, except that the fed into the drum by said rolls to block out varying extents thereof for selective copying purposes.

I claim:

1.' A liquid process duplicating machine of the kind having a printing couple including a mastercarrying drum and an opposed pressure roll which are rotative oppositely to each other to press a copy sheet to a flexible master carried by the drum, characterized in that the drum has a rigid cylindrical wall which is provided with two circumferentially spaced slots extending longitudinally of the drum for insertion of both end portions of a flexible master into the drum and is adapted to enclose said end portions of the master with the ends of master disconnected from the drum, said slots diverging from each other from the outer to the inner face of said wall with the leading onethereof making an acute angle and the trailing one thereof an obtuse angle with a plane radial tothe axis of the drum.

2. A liquid process duplicating machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is carried within the drum a pair of rolls extending longitudinally of the drum for anchoring a master to said drum with end portions of varying lengths or said master extended into the drum through the two circumferentially spaced slots, which pair of rolls is arranged with the bight thereof close to and substantially opposite the inner end of the leading one of the slots in the drum.

CHARLES H. BRAUI'. 

